I had to take off my shoes .

When I was 19 years old ,I worked for 6 months as a package handler at a well known distribution company.The job required you to wear work boots ,and by the end of your shift ,your feet hurt .The job also required you to go through a guard shack that lead out to the employee parking lot .You had to have a security search ,where you removed your belt ,watch , jewelry and shoes before being inspected and sent through by a guard.Most people found the process to be a pain ,but they didn't mind taking off their shoes .It was common for many of the employees to carry their shoes with them as they walked out into the parking lot .One time ,I was working a " guest" shift overnight from 230 AM - 9 AM.It turned out they were overstaffed and I was sent home around 300AM.I was wearing brand new boots that were a size too small ,and my feet were hurting VERY badly .After I was sent through by the guard,I carry them with me- that was the first time I personally did that -and walked out into the parking lot to my car in my black work socked feet .As I got to my car ,I decided to put my shoes in the passenger side and drive home in my socks .On the way home - it was around 330 Am - I stopped at a Royal Farms convenience store near my house to get coffee,and to smoke a cigarette outside my car .( I never smoke in my car ) I would never do this in the daytime ,but since my feet were killing me ,and I figured the store would be deserted,I figured that no one would care if I went in my socks .As I approached the store - it was deserted - there was a the clerk ,standing outside smoking a cigarette herself .She was a girl in her 20 s ,and she was wearing the store uniform ,and standing there- in white socked feet .We both noticed each other's feet and smiled .She was about to go inside ,when I told her not to go in on my account because I was about to smoke myself .As we both stood there smoking ,she looked down at my feet and smiled .She asked me if my feet hurt ; I admitted they were killing me ,and then I explained where I worked and the situation with my new boots .She laughed ,and of course I asked about hers.She explained that she was working a double shift and that her feet " hurt so much !"I suppose you could say that we bonded over achy feet !